Here’s How Much Water Your Body Needs To Lose Weight

Water is an important element for so many different reasons. Let’s start with us: we’re made up of about 50-75% water depending on body composition. Water is responsible for a multitude of different body functions – regulating body temperature, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the cells, dissolving minerals

Oh, and it increases metabolism. Just in case you wanted to know if aqua can help lose some stubborn pounds – the answer is a resounding “YES!”

According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, drinking 17 ounces of water increases metabolic rate by 30% in healthy men and women. The maximum effect was reached 30-40 minutes after the subjects drank.

Let’s look at another study that highlights water’s weight loss properties. Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom conducted a 12-week experiment in which 84 obese adults was given basic weight loss advice and assigned to one of two groups. The first group was instructed to drink about 16 ounces of water a half an hour before their meals, while the second group asked to quickly imagine their stomachs full before each meal. At its conclusion, the experiment revealed that the first group loss three pounds more than the second.

This is much-welcomed news to those who have a desire to lose a few pounds (dang near everyone), but we should be drinking an adequate amount of water – from six to ten cups daily – regardless. Before we delve further into the relationship between water intake and weight loss, let’s briefly list H2O’s other health benefits:

– Helps keep us alert

– Prevents headaches

– Boosts cognitive abilities

– Protects our heart

If you are indeed among the multitudes that is seeking to lose a few pounds, proper hydration needs to be a key factor. Aside from nourishing the body before, during and after any physical activity, we should be tracking our water intake throughout the day. This is very important, as the proper amount of water consumption can assure our metabolism is operating at capacity while suppressing the desire to overeat.

We’re going to provide the formula for calculating optimal water intake as well as a basic, numerical breakdown to serve as a quick point of reference.

Please note: it’s not necessary to be exacting in your water intake. Simply be as accurate as possible within reason. Although, if you feel better busting out the water beaker, feel free! Measuring cups could be beneficial, however.

FIRST, HERE ARE THE FORMULA STEPS AND A QUICK EXPLANATION ON WHY YOU NEED THIS MUCH WATER TO EFFECTIVELY LOSE WEIGHT:

STEP 1: GET YOUR WEIGHT

Obviously, it’s important to have an accurate number depicting weight in determining optimal water consumption. This is necessary since, as the pounds or kilograms increase, water intake will increase accordingly.

If the numbers on the scale show a decimal, round down if it is a .4 or lower; round up if it is a .5 or higher. If using an analog scale, get the most accurate reading possible

(Example: 200.4 pounds = 200 pounds. 200.5 is rounded to 201, etc.)

STEP 2: DIVIDE YOUR WEIGHT IN HALF

If this number includes a decimal, simply round up. The resulting number is our required water intake in ounces.

(Example: 201 pounds/ 2= 100.5, which is rounded to 101 ounces.)

STEP 3: DETERMINE ACTIVITY LEVEL

The level to which we physically exert ourselves has a direct correlation with our water intake. As we exercise or perform anything strenuous, our bodies will naturally expel water, which means this must be compensated for.